The Image staff muses on the culture of keeping up appearances

'The Biggest Loser' breaks into apparel with a new active-wear collection

May 5, 2010 | 8:00
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Hundreds of people who watch "The Biggest Loser" each week have been inspired to start working out and get fit. Now they can go one squat-thrust further and wear BL Body by Biggest Loser, a new line of branded active-wear while working up a sweat.

Designer Bruno Schiavi (who knows a thing or two about licensed apparel having worked with Warner Bros. on projects such as the "Batman Begins" sleepwear and underwear) was tapped to create the line of men’s and women’s workout gear.

“Everyone is looking at you when you’re at the gym,” says Schiavi on a phone call from Australia (he runs his business between Australia and Los Angeles). “I designed this line for men and women who want to feel comfortable and look cute. The cuts are more flattering, the lengths are longer to the hip, so if you’re doing a down dog you won’t be flashing your belly.”

Schiavi created the collection of tank tops, pants, jackets and support bras specifically for someone who may lose a lot of weight over the course of their regimen, with drawstrings on the side of tank tops to adjust as a mid-section decreases in size.

Inspired by the contestants on "The Biggest Loser" (who, by the way, will all be wearing BL Body by Biggest Loser in the new season which starts in September), the line starts at a size small and runs up to a 5X.

“This line does not discriminate on size,” he says. “There are a lot of pieces for layering, tops are cut longer to cover the hips and the hangtags have fitness tips of what exercises to do while wearing the piece.”

And no more belly-baring downward dogs, now that’s what I call motivation.

BL Body by Biggest Loser will be in stores at the end of September. Prices range from $40 and under for tank tops and $59 and under for jackets, with everything under $65.